HANSON — Having completed six months of chemotherapy this week at Mass General Hospital, Anthony Sevieri was welcomed home by a car parade filled with his family and friends.
The 20-year-old Whitman Hanson graduate known to all as “Big Tony,” was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in October 2020 and has received treatment every two weeks.
Tony stood outside his home on County Road taking in the love like a seasoned rock star. Balloons, streamers and confetti flew through the air celebrating his resilience.
His sense of unwavering positivity and his determination to beat the disease is what got him through, according to his mom Erika who is an OBGYN nurse at Mass General Hospital.
His elder sister Alexis who is a special education teacher north of Boston said it was the first time since Christmas she got to hug him.
She quarantined in order to come home for Christmas, she said.
They talked via face time almost daily but seeing him home and done with treatments was a great relief.
“He is a remarkable kid,” said Colleen Cole a family friend and colleague of Tony’s mom.
Sevieri gave the thumbs up and pointed to his shirt, which he created while in quarantine and during his chemotherapy.
Many of his well-wishers wore his T-shrt brand lettering stood out with bright yellow and black as they gathered on the lawn at his home.
A milestone he is looking forward to is turning 21 in a few months he had a mixed set of emotions on completing chemotherapy, he said.
“Tired, excited and in a weird way kind of a slight sense of loss because this has been my focus for six months just getting through each treatment, getting to the last day- just day- to -day. The last day is here. The treatments over now (pause) what’s next,” he said of how he felt.
What’s he looking forward to?
“A lot more of these, he said pointing to his t-shirt brand. Good vibes and good times,” he said with great enthusiasm.
He is also waiting to get the all clear from his future scan in April. Mom Erika said they are expecting a good prognosis and are optimistic he is on the path to better health.
The support from co-workers and family was tremendous with father Thomas adding “they are very happy” that he is doing so well. He credited Tony’s unwavering commitment